Nice shots man. Goes to show so.goes can kill it... atleast the rider can in this case... sick shots.

Thanks! I would have to give credit to the guy who took most of those shots though.

It's a great ride, incredibly stable and it doesn't feel very heavy once you get used to it.

Something baffles me a bit though, the thing weighs 40 pounds on the dot and (without whiping out Excel) I can't really figure out what is so heavy out about it. Front is wheel has a dual ply tire with an XC tube in it and the rear has a single ply tire with a DH tube. I can't really figure out why it's so heavy compared to a lot of builds I see here with heavier rims, tires, cranks and forks.

You guys seal up your frame and tires with nitrogen don't you...

About buying a bike:

Originally Posted by No MSG

It's like finding a wife. Personality is important, but you gotta look at that face every morning.

The ring is 28t, and it's not really a bash despite looking like one. There is a plate on both sides of the chainring, but it twists at the site of an obstacle, hence I modded it a bit to add a proper bash. That's a widgit.

just looked it up. looks sick but i dont think i have the legs to push a 28 in ma and vt. i wish they made a 26 or 24.

Daaaaaamn.. i love this kind of heavy duty all-around philosophy!! All i would add is a Hammerschmidt for the climbs

Thanks

2 things.

First at 35lbs that is about all I would want to push up hills. You get used to it and it's a lot about fitness but I really wouldn't want to add more, which the Hammer would. Thought about it.

The second is after riding it for a couple of months with the 32 front only and getting sore knees and not being able to push up the steepest climbs I taped the holes in the Saint and installed a 24 tooth inner ring. I gained 2 lower gears and lost 2 upper gears and the spacing between gears is more even now. There really isn't anything I will spin out on around here and only get into the 11 tooth cog every once and a while as it is. 2nd gear is really good for climbing steep stuff and I have a fairly good granny if I need it. I used 1st yesterday and climbed up something that I had never made it up. I can shift down to the small ring by pushing it over with my shoe but have to put it back up by hand. But to tell you the truth I don't really even need the 32 for around here. I ordered a Blackspire trials ring guard and when that gets here I'm just going to take off the 32 and run with the 24 only.

Most thought having 7 inches of travel front and back on a XC bike is nuts but the truth is it works better. I have it set up supper squishy with a lot of high speed compression dampening for hard hits.

Might not be a popular decision with the 29er rigid pushing big ring guys but hey I don't ride with them anyhow.

If I ever do get to a down hill park I just have to change a few things out and should be good to go.

Heh, no worries, i understand the pluses and minuses. I'm on a 42 pound Maelstrom myself.. using an old 66 with ETA, a travel adjust seatpost, and 24-36 chainrings. Built for no holds barred epic riding.